Drivers Who Hassle Cocoa Beach Bicyclists May Pay Up

By SEO Admin on September 12, 2012

Florida Today-September 11, 2012-COCOA BEACH According to the article riding a bike can be a hazardous pastime, thanks to discourteous, dangerous drivers who want the roadway to themselves. These motorists zoom past bicyclists with inches to spare. Throw things at them. And unexpectedly honk horns from behind, potentially startling bikers into tumbling beneath the vehicles wheels. Mayor Skip Beeler bikes around Cocoa Beach, Brevard County, Florida pedaling along city roadways and State Road A1A and he has been threatened numerous times to get off the road by people "yelling or beeping their horn right in your ear." Hes had enough. The article goes onto say that the Cocoa Beach City Commission is considering an ordinance designed to curb harassment and abuse of bicyclists, pedestrians and joggers. If adopted, this measure would levy $100 fines for first-time offenders and $200 fines for subsequent violators.

"Bicyclists have the right to be on the road. Theres a lot of bad behavior among a small group of motorists," Beeler, who proposed the ordinance, told commissioners last week.

"The majority of motorists are very responsible and give bicycles and pedestrians all the due care. But there are a small group that dont," Beeler said.

During a discussion, Mayor Beeler displayed a photo of a "ghost bike" roadside memorial for bicyclist who was struck by a car and killed in July on North Courtenay Parkway on Merritt Island. The bicyclist had planned to teach chemistry at Edgewood Jr./Sr. High before the accident.

Cocoa Beachs ordinance would protect bicyclists, pedestrians and joggers by prohibiting those who:

Assault, attempt to assault, or threaten to injure them

Intentionally injure, attempt to injure, or threaten to injure them

Intentionally distract or attempt to distract them

Intentionally force or attempt to force them off a street

Pass bicyclists within fewer than 3 feet, the distance mandated by Florida Statutes

Beelers initial proposal only included bicyclists. Commissioner Kevin Pruett successfully moved to expand the ordinance to include walkers and joggers as well.

Commissioners unanimously approved the ordinances first reading. City Attorney Skip Fowler said he is researching and rewriting the ordinance, and it will likely come up for an Oct. 4 vote.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Florida has ranked as the nations deadliest state for bicyclists in recent years.